HOUSE NEWBIES ON ENERGY

10 to watch: GOP freshmen on energy
Robin Bravender, December 28, 2010 (Politico)

"House Republican freshmen looking to make names for themselves on energy issues in the next Congress have some goals in common: Ramp up domestic energy production, roll back the Obama administration’s environmental rules and ensure that cap-and-trade stays dead…10 [of the 87 GOP freshman] to watch on energy and environmental issues [are]…

"David McKinley (W.Va.)…wants to use his seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee to protect his district’s lifeblood — the coal industry…Cory Gardner (Colo.)…hopes to advance “hearty oversight” of the EPA from his new perch on the Energy and Commerce Committee…[and] to support legislation advancing renewable energy as well as fossil fuel production…"

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"Adam Kinzinger (Ill.)…[A] U.S. Air Force veteran backed by the tea party and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin considers himself an environmentalist [and]…said Congress must act aggressively to exploit domestic energy resources, including coal, offshore oil, natural gas, oil shale and renewables…cap-and-trade legislation is off the table…Mike Pompeo (Kan.)…president of an oil and gas equipment company…Among his top priorities: investigating EPA…

"Morgan Griffith (Va.)… repeatedly hammered [former incumbent] Boucher for his work on the cap-and-trade bill…despite Boucher’s efforts to strike a sweeter deal for the coal industry…Charlie Bass (N.H.)…returning to Congress to take back the seat he held from 1997 until 2007…[will] be a more moderate voice on environmental issues…[He worked to keep a 2005] provision to allow drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge out of a House spending bill."

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"Jeff Landry (La.)…[is] eager to use his seat on the Natural Resources Committee to end what he calls the administration’s “de facto moratorium” on oil and gas drilling in the Gulf and allow the permitting process to move more swiftly…Jeff Duncan (S.C.)…[The] incoming Natural Resources Committee freshman wants…the Resources panel to get more active on energy issues by opening up federal lands that are currently off limits to energy exploration…[and] expand nuclear power and energy production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

"Bill Flores (Texas)…has deep roots in the oil and gas industry, including a stint as president and CEO of the drilling firm Phoenix Exploration Co. His top energy goal in the next Congress: increase access to domestic energy supplies…Steve Pearce (N.M.)…returning to the House after a two-year absence, but he won’t regain his former seat on the Natural Resources panel…[but] hopes to play a major role on energy issues by authoring legislation…increasing access to domestic oil and gas reserves."